Train order holder



June 5, 1945.

v. H. CAMPBELL `2,377,312

TRAIN ORDERv HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19,' 1943 June 5, 1945. v. H. CAMPBELL 2,371,312

4 TRMN ORDEB'HOLDER Filed Oct. 19, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I WWW Poemes June s, 194s UNiTE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,311,312 I l mmoam norman Vernonhlifctzmpbell, Polo', Mo., assigner of one- 0. J. Adams,

Kingston, Mo.

Apueaoon'omber 1s, 194s, serial No, sodass (ci. esszi 2 Claims.

hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to accommodate pluralityv of orders, one to be brought automatically into position for delivery when the other is removed.

`Another very important object of the invention.

is to provide a multiple train order holder of the character described which may be readily adjusted vertically as desired.

Still another important ,object of the invention E is to provide an order holder of the aforementioned character which is adapted to deliver orders to trains passing thereby in opposite directions. Y

Other objects of the invention are to provide an lower,'intermediate and upper sections 2, 3 and I, respectively, said section 2 being embedded in the ground, as at 5, to the desired depth, Collars 3 are provided on the upper' end portions of the sections 2 and '3.' Clamping. screws 'I are threaded through the collars l and the upper end portions of the sections 2 and 3 for releesably securing the standard I in` adjusted position.

Mounted at spaced points on the upper section 4 of the standard I are vertically adjustable right and left -hand order-retaining units which are designated generally by reference numeral 3. v

Theunits 3- are for delivering orders to trains traveling in opposite directions. \As the units l vtailed description of one will sumce. for both.

adjustable, multiple train order holder which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong', durable, highly efcient and reliable in use. compact, and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through the llower portion' of theA device, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3is an elevational view of an intermediete portion of the device, showing one of the vertically adjustable fork-retaining units.

Figure 4 is a View in horizontal section through the telescopically adjustable standard, showing one of the fork-receiving units in top plan.

Figure' 5 is a. fragmentary view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line l-l of Figure 3.

lFigure 6' is a detail view of the outerend por- I tion of one of the fork arms. i Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the strings` still further objects and Aadvantages of the invention will become ap- Each unit [includes a metallic sleeve 9 which is adjustable vertically on the upper section@ of the standard I. -A screw Il releasably secures the sleeve 3 in adjusted position. Projecting hori zontally from the sleeve 8 is a shaft II. A `block I2 is journaled on the shaft Il between cotter slots I 5 in their outer end portions.

I'he tubes I4 are for the reception of the stems I3 of forks II for removably mounting said forks on the unit 3. Guides in the form of resilient clips -I 3 are mounted on the outer ends of the arms I3 of the forks I1. The guides I8 slidably retain on the forks I1 strings 20 to which the ordersto be delivered, as at 2|, are tied.- Pins 23 on the stems` Il of the forks IlA are engageable in the bayonet slots lIl for anchoringsaid forks in .the tubes Il. Coil springs 2l in the tubes I4 are engageable with the inner ends of the stems Il for portions of and is engage'able with the lower tube Il for through the medium' of which the orders are mounted on the forks.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be .seen that the embodiment of the4 invention which has been illustrated comprises a vertically adjustable, tubular metallic standard or pole which is designated generally by reference nulmeral I. The standard I includes telescopic u releasably supporting the corresponding fork I1 in delivery or horizontal position. Rising from the arm 2l'is a post 21 having mounted on its upper end portion a guide 28. The guide-2l slid- A dog 28 is pivotally ll and Il. respectively. for engagement by e tubes Il. The lower stop Il includes. on its u r end.' a resilient clip II for retaining the tube when it drops-into engagement said mp sl.

is thought that the operation of the device be apparent from a consideration of foregoing. Briefly. the forks Il, with the rders Il mounted thereon, are mounted in the tubes|l.'lhe Ilarethenswungina vertical plane shaft il for engaging one of said tubes the stop Il and for permitting the dog .It to engage beneath the other of said tubes. Thus, the fork .il from which the iirst delivery is to be made is supported in a horizontally projecting position on the standard i and the other fork i1 is retained in a vertical. position adjacent said standard. The lower strings 2Q arev then inserted through the guides 2l and looped over the upper end portions of the dogs It where they are retained by theclips 203 The device is now ready lfor operation. yWhen the strings 2l on one of the lower forks Il is pulled wsgggg N as. the delivery is being made, said string, slip.

ping tlirough its respective guide It, disengages the dog 2i from beneath the lower tube Il. Thus, the upper fork I1 is permitted to swing downwardly to a horizontal .position and the device I is ready for the next delivery.

' It is believed that the many advantages of a train order holder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is` to be understood that changes in the details of iecting 'from said standard, one of said stops limiting upward movement of one arm to a'substantially vertical inoperative position, the other stop limiting downward movement of the other arm to a :substantially vertical inoperative position, a vertically swinging dog mounted on the standard and engaseable under said other arm to support it in a substantially horizontal operative position with the one arm substantially vertical, and a guide carried by said standard and located between the latter and the dos. the flexible order-carrying member of the fork carried by said.other arm being threaded through said guide and engaged with the dog for releasing the latter and allowing the arms to lower to bring the one arm into a substantially horizontal operative position when thel last-named flexible order-carrying member is removed from its fork.

2. A train order deliverydevice comprising a vertical standard. a sleeve vertically adjustable on the standard,-a shaft projecting laterally from the sleeve, dlverging tubular arms joumaled onsaid shaft, order-holding forks having stems removably telescoped in said tubular arms, easily from said sleeve, one of said stops limiting upward movement of one arm to a substantially vertical inoperative position, the other stop limiting downwardunovement of the other arm to a substantially vertical inoperative position. a vertically swinging dog mounted on the sleeve and engageable under said other arm to support it in a substantially horizontal position with the one arm substantially vertical, and a guide carried by said sleeve and located between the latter and the dog,4 the flexible order-carrying member of the fork carried by said other arm being threaded 'through said guidel and engaged with 40 the dog for releasing the latter and allowing the stems removably telescoped in said tubular arms.

easily removable4 i'lexible order-carrying members carried by said forks, horizontal. stops proarms to'lower to bring the one arm into a substantially horizontal operative position when the last-named flexible order-carrying member is removed from its fork.

VERNON H. CAMPBELL. 

